Metallic railroad cross-tie



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A. GOTTLIEB.

METALLIC RAILROAD GROSS TIE.

No. 310,269 Patented Jan. 6, 1885.

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A. GOTTLIEB.

METALLIC RAILROAD (moss TIE.

P10. 310,269. Patented Jan. 6, 1885.

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METALLIC RAILROADGROSS TIE. No. 310,269. Patented Jan. 6, 1885.

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Ueureo STATES PATENT Orricir.

ABRAHAM GOTTLIEB, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

METALLIC RAILROAD CROSS-TIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 310,269, dated January 6, 1885.

Application filed August 15, 1884. (No model.)

r (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ABRAHAMGOTTLTE'B, a

. citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsand locking-plates being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of one end of the cross-tie, the rail being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cross-tic, the rail being shown in section and received by a 1nodiiied form of locking-plate. Fig. at is a plan view of the cross-tie. Figs. 5, (3, 7, and S are plan and edge views of the forms of lockingplates employed at curves in line of rails. Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of a modiiicd form of the locking-phite shown in Figs. 5 to 8. Fig. is a side elevation of the same.

My invention relates to an improved form of metal cross-tie for railroads, and to devices for properly securing and leveling the rails on such ties; and the object of my invention is to so shape the tie that it may be easily rolled or otherwise formed, and can be securely cmbeddcd in the ballasting, and also to so con struet the fastening devices that rails may be :uljustably secured to said tics, thereby proriding for tracks ofvarying gage and for variations of gage in the same track or line of road, and any irregularity in the alignment of the ties themselves; and to this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The cross-tic 1 is formed with two beds, 2, running parallel with each other longitudinal of the tie, and between these beds is formed the longitudinal groove or corrugation 8, thereby increasing the resistance of the crosstie as against flexure, such increased resistance being especially important when the tie is not uniformly supported on its under side by the ballasting; and this corrugation allows of a slight yielding motion to the supporting-beds 2, thereby providing an elastic support for the rail. Along the outer edges of the supporting-beds 2 are formed the vertical ledges or walls 4, and from these vertical ledges extend the outwardly-inclined sidesfi, the outer portions of which are bent inwardly to form the vertical wall 6.

The cross ties constructed as above described can be formed from steel or iron blooms or billots in any desired length by passing such blooms or billots through between suitably-grooved rolls and then cutting such rolled blanks into any desired lengths. The vertical walls 6 of the crosstie are braced as against any spreading action by the transverse braces 7, secured by rivets or bolts to the vertical walls (5 at the ends and middle portion thereof. The number and distances apart of the braces may be varied at pleasure, though to get the best results one should be used at or near each end of each cross-tic and one at or near the middle. In addition to bracing the walls as above described, these braces 7 prevent longitudinal movement of the cross-tie, the ballasting being packed in and around the same.

In the supportingbeds 2 are formed the slots 8 and 9. arranged at an angle of forty-five degrees,1nore or less, to the central axis of the tie, and are located so that at least a portion thereof will not be covered by the outer flanges of the rails when in place. The slots 8 in the other bed have the same angular relation to the central axis of the tie as the slots 9, but are located so that at least a portion thereof will not be covered'by the inner flanges of the rails when in place. The slots 8 and 9 at one end ofthe cross-tie are arranged parallel to each other, but are at an angle of ninety degrees to the slots 8 and i) at the other end, which are also parallel to each other.

In place of having both outer slots, 9, in one bed, and the inner slots, 8, in the other bed, each bed may have an inner and outer slot,

provided that their angular arrangement with 9 relation to each other as above described is preserved. On these beds at each end of the tie are placed the locking-plates 10, said plates being provided with a flange, 11, adapted when the plates are in place to bear against the ver- The slots 9 in one of the beds are tical ledge 1- along the outer edge of the supporting-bed. These locking-plates are pro vided with one or more angularly-arranged slots,l2,which when the locking-plates are in 5 place will form an angle of ninety degrees with the slotsS and 9 in the supporting-beds, as shown in Fig. 2. These locking-plates are placed on the supporting beds with their flanges bearing against the vertical ledges and 10 with their slots 12 directly over the slots 8 and 9 in the beds. Through these slots are passed the bolts 13, having a head projecting on one side only, and having a squared portion immediately above the heads, the remainder of I 5 the bolt being round, as usual, and threaded at its upper end. After the bolts have been passed down through the slots until the squared portion is below the slots in the supportingbeds, the bolts are turned around ninety do grees, and then drawn up until the head portion bears against the under side of the beds and the square portion lies within the slots in the beds. The clamping-plates 1i, having one of their ends constructed, as shown, to fit the flange of the rail, are then slipped over the bolts 13, the rails having been previously placed on the locking-plates, as shown by the Figs. 1 and 2, and are then secured in place by the nuts 15. The bolts 13 may be made 0 with only a side head, described, or a T- head may be used. This is simply a provision whereby to insert the bolts in place from above, but where this is not deemed necessary, as in bridge-ties, any suitable form of head may be used.

It will be observed in reference to Fig. 2 that by sliding the locking-plates along the supporting-plates a considerable variation in the position of the rail can be obtained. It

.0 will also be observed that any spreading action will tend to force the bolt 13 in direction of the arrow 0:,- but as the bolt cannot move in that direction said outward pressure or t'orce will be resolved with two forces, a and .5 ;1 one tending to move the bolt along the slot in the supporting-bed and the other to force it against the side of said slot at right angles thereto; but its tendency to move in the direction a will cause it to bear at right angles against the slot 12 in the locking-plate and move said plate transversely across its supporting-bed, which movement will be prevented by the flange 11 being against the vertical ledge 4. These locking-plates may be 5 5 formed by rolling between suitable rolls, and

the blank thus rolled is then cut oil" into suitable lengths; and these locking-plates are then slotted, as shown, in a suitable manner; or these locking-plates may be cast in suitable 6o molds, the slot being formed by a core in said molds. The locking-plates employed in scouring the rail at one end of the cross-tie are made for straight lines of track exactly alike; but in placing them in the tie they are ar- 6 5 ranged end for end, as shown in Fig. 2.

ln laying curved tracks the locking-plates are formed wedge shape, in order that the rails resting thereon may have the requisite inclination for such curves, as shown in Figs. 5 to 8.

3y reference to Figs. 5 to S the following differences in construction will be observed: The locking-plate shown in Fig. 5, having the slot 12 formed in its thin end, is adapted to be used in connection with the outer slot, 9, in that end of the tie which will support the inner rail of the curve, and the plate shown in Fig. 6, having its slot in the thick end, is adapted to be used in connection with the inner slot, 8, at the same end of the tie. The plates shown in Figs. 7 and 8, having their slots in the thin and thick ends, respectively, are to be used in connection with the slots 8 and 9 in that end of the tie which supports the outer high rail in the curve.

In order to adapt the wedged-shaped locking-plate for different points in the curves, or for the varying inclinations of the rails in different parts of thecurve, a series of angular slots are formed along said plate, thereby p to viding by the simple longitudinal adjustment of said plates for the varying inclination of the railas, for example, at that portion of the curve where the inclination of the rail is greatest the slots in the lockingplates which are nearest the highest portion of said plate are brought in line with slots 9, arranged along the outer line of the rails, and the slots in the locking-plates farthest from the high portion oi'said plate are brought in line with the slots 8, arranged along the innerline of the rails. By this arrangement the rails are supported on the highest part of the locking-plates, and as the inclination decreases each way the lockingplates are so adjusted that the rails will rest on lower port-ions successively, the slots next adjacent to those employed at the point 0 greatest inclination being brought in line seecessively with the slots 8 and 9 in the crossties. In place of forming these wcdge-like lochingplates in one piece, 1'. may form them as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, in which the locking-plate proper is made ot' uniform thick ness, and on this is placed the wedge-piece 17, having a llange, 18, to lock over the edge in the lockingplate to retain the wedge-piece in place.

The cross-ties may be made of any desired length to adapt them for use in narrow or broad gage or for switches or sidings.

In place of forming the cross-ties with double seats, I may form them with a single seat, in which case the outer slots, 9,would be formed in one cross-tie, and the inner slots, 8, would be formed in the next cross-tie, and so on in alternating order; or the cross tie may be formed with a rail seat or bed sufficiently bread for the reception of two locking-plates side by side; and in place of securing the locking-plates as against transverse movement by the flange above described the same end may be effected by forming a longitudinal groove along the beds of the cross-tics for the recep- IOU tion of a corresponding rib or projection on the under side of the locking-plate.

In using above-described cross-tie and locking-plates I prefer to place a washer of rubber, leather, or other suitable material between the locking-plate and cross-tie, thereby affording an elastic seat for the rails and pre venting the access of water between said parts.

In place of forming the cross-ties by rolling, as above described, they may be cast, it desired, in which the braces 7 may or may not be formed integral with the tie.

It is not absolutely essential that the system of slots described be employed at both ends of the tie, as the slots maybe made at one end, as described, and the gage being measured therefrom a non-adjustable means of securing the rail to the other end of the tie be provided at such other end, and if the slots be made a little broader than the diameter of the bolt-shank, or if they be curved, the precise angles designated may be correspondingly varied; hence in these respects I do not limit myself with mathematical exactness.

I claim herein as my invention-,

1. A wrought-iron or steel crosstie having double rail seats or beds longitudinally corrugated between said beds, and having its lower edges connected by vertical transverse braces adapted when the tie is in place to prevent any longitudinal movement of the tie on its bed, substantially as set forth.

2. Awroughtiron or steel cross-tie having double rail seats or beds angularly slotted, as

4. A wrought-iron or steel cross-tie having a suitable rail bed or seat angularly slotted, as described, in combination with a locking plate adapted to be secured as against trans Verse movement on the rail bed or seat, and provided with an angularly-arranged slot, suhstantially as set forth.

5. A wrought-iron or steel cross-tie havlng a suitable rail bed or support angularly slotted, as described, in combination with a wedge like locking-plate angularly slotted, substantially as set forth.

6. A metal railway-track cross-tie having a arail-supporting seat or bed, and a pair of angular slots near one or both ends thereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ABRAHAM GOTTLIEB.

\Vitnesses:

S. HARVEY THOMPSON, DARWIN S. WoLoorT. 

